Commentary: 2008 Depth Chart

[RoninFin4]

My predicted 53-man Depth Chart​

As promised Dolfans, I’ve come out with my depth chart. Now, since this is before any preseason play, I made it a little more challenging on myself, as there’s usually a surprise or two that come out of the exhibition games. Not that they made much of an impact as starters, but primarily on special teams, Edmond Miles and Courtney Bryan would fit that bill from last season for example.

(Players are listed depth wise from top to bottom, starters are bold, but I’ll number each player from 1 to 53).

I’ll keep it simple – as I’m sure we’ll probably scour the preseason cuts and add a few names (Pat McQuistan the Cowboy OT is on my radar) but that’s nearly impossible to foresee unless your Parcells, Ireland, or Sparano. I’m not, so I won’t try. However, since Coach Sparano did release the “seniority” depth chart, I’m going to fearlessly forecast the depth chart for opening day against the Jets, comprised of the current Dolphins roster; that means no Terry Glenn as of now.

At the end, I’ll add a brief note about some of the notable cuts and position battles as I see them shaping up, as well as some players who might end up on the practice squad based on their potential future impact for the Dolphins.

OFFENSE: I’m assuming we open with 2 TE’s or an H-back, thus no starting FB.

QB: 3 keepers

1. Chad Henne – first Parcells QB to start since Bledsoe; the future begins now.
2. John Beck – screams Sage Rosenfels as a backup type of QB; why is he not more improved?
3. Josh McCown – veteran can play in a pinch, but clearly not an answer if Quincy Carter is being considered.

RB: 3 keepers

4. Ronnie Brown – will he stay healthy for a full season and become an elite back?
5. Ricky Williams – insurance for the R&R Express. Back again and looking solid.
6. Jalen Parmele – something tells me he’ll be our #2 RB after this season.

FB: 1 keeper

7. Boomer Grigsby – FB in conventional formations and special teams demon.

WR: 5 keepers

8. Ted Ginn – gets first crack at being the #1, will be mentored by Glenn.
9. Ernest Wilford – underrated pickup who can move the chains; nice compliment WR
10. Derek Hagan - will he finally come around and hold down the #3 spot?
11. Davone Bess – undrafted playmaker will get plenty of chances in slot a la Welker.
12. Greg Camarillo – the hero of 2007 will get a spot, barring a Terry Glenn signing.

TE/H-back: 3 keepers

14. Anthony Fasano – finally out of Jason Witten’s shadow – we’ll see how he handles it.
15. Sean Ryan – a Parcells guy; figures to get the starting #2 TE/H-Back position.
16. Justin Peelle – eeks a spot out over Matt Mulligan; will contribute as an H-back.

OT: 3 keepers

17. Jake Long – should anchor the O-line at LT for the next 10 years.
18. Vernon Carey – back at his natural position and playing for a new contract.
19. Ike Ndukwe – could be cut depending on signings; nice prospect for a swing tackle.

OG: 4 keepers

19. Justin Smiley – large FA signing will help Jake Long anchor the blindside.
20. Donald Thomas – late round steal will contribute from day one as a rookie.
21. Shawn Murphy – puzzling selection in round 4 should be a backup; probable inactive.
22. Trey Darilek – can play all 5 O-line spots and should be an active backup.

OC: 2 keepers

23. Samson Satele – could be a future All-Pro if he keeps improving.
24. Steve McKinney – veteran backup can play C or G.

DEFENSE

DE: 5 keepers

25. Vonnie Holliday – veteran may lose time to rookies, but should be a solid starter.
26. Kendall Langford – surprise starter for week 1; lots of potential in small-school prospect.
27. Phillip Merling – a force of the edge drafted lower than he should’ve been – future stud DE.
28. Randy Starks – will rotate between DE and NT; will be a valuable part of the rotation.
29. Lionel Dotson - gets the nod over Rod Wright due to versatility of playing DE and NT.

NT: 3 keepers

30. Jason Ferguson – savvy vet will hold down the middle of the 3-4.
31. Paul Soliai – could be a future starter if he improves technique. Ferg’s presence should help.
32. Anthony Toribio – surprise of the roster; expendable if a veteran becomes available.

OLB: 4 keepers

33. Charlie Anderson – veteran gets to start in JT’s absence. Could be player on the rise.
34. Joey Porter – now the vet in charge of the defense. Run-stopping ability will be crucial.
35. Quentin Moses – hard to see this guy not starting for very long; future stud.
36. Matt Roth – can also play DE; but probably better at SOLB than Rob Ninkovich.

ILB: 4 keepers

37. Akin Ayodele – knows the system and is a sure tackler on the inside.
38. Channing Crowder – signal caller of the defense will shine back at his natural position.
39. Reggie Torbor – will get lots of playing time in nickel and dime packages and special teams.
40. Kelvin Smith – bulked up, but will have to play well on special teams to keep roster spot.

CB: 6 keepers

41. Andre Goodman – back healthy and looking to regain 2006 form; solid #2 CB.
42. Will Allen – playing for a contract; solid #1 CB, but needs more INTs to warrant the big $.
43. Michael Lehan – hopefully rebounds from ankle injury to keep nickel CB spot.
44. Travis Daniels – can play CB or S; but must fit a role on special teams to keep roster spot.
45. Nathan Jones – special teams whiz who’ll make the roster solely for that reason.
46. Joey Thomas – surprise roster spot will need to step up on special teams; probable inactive.

S: 4 keepers

47. Jason Allen – Todd Bowles will harness all the talent and let us see the total package.
48. Yeremiah Bell – playing for a long-term extension; hopefully regains 2006 form at SS.
49. Chris Crocker – will see time in nickel and dime
50. Keith Davis – should be the leading tackler on special teams; valuable depth player at SS.

SPECIAL TEAMS

51. Jay Feely – very accurate in 2007, but must improve distance on kickoffs.
52. Brandon Fields – big leg, slow delivery that needs to be fixed to avoid blocks.
53. John Denney – I hate giving the LS his own spot, but Denney’s hard to beat out.

Noteworthy Cuts​

RB Patrick Cobbs – probably comes down to whether or not he’s better than Joey Thomas at special teams; Michael Lehan’s injury status certainly helps Thomas’ cause for now.
FB Lex Hilliard – a fan-favorite who just isn’t ready for the NFL; makes practice squad.
FB Reagan Mauia – the juggernaut is a one-trick pony. Grigsby and Ryan offer a lot more.
WR David Kircus – a special teams mainstay in prior years; expendable because of Bess.
WR Jayson Foster – a speed demon, but hasn’t learned the finer points of being a WR.
TE David Martin – can’t catch a cold and isn’t a great blocker; an experiment gone wrong.
DE Rodrique Wright – stuck behind a group of D Ends; can’t play pinch NT like Dotson can.
LB Junior Glymph – knew the system from Dallas days; simply not quite as good as Ninkovich.
LB Edmond Miles – best chance to make it is beating out Smith on special teams.
FS Renaldo Hill – best days from Saban era are behind him; knee isn’t what it used to be.

The Major Battles​

Quarterbacks: well, there are only 3 in training camp, so the decision comes down to who starts, who’s the backup, and who holds the clipboard. At this point I’d like to think that John Beck will get the starting job; but that’s merely hope as reports have indicated he hasn’t played particularly well. Maybe he’s just not as good as some Dolfans hope he is, but I’d prefer he start the year just to see what he’s really made of. For some reason, he screams Sage Rosenfels at me – a capable backup who can come in and manage a game in a pinch, but just doesn’t have the nuts and bolts to be an every week starter. McCown was brought in as a veteran backup, and as far as I’m concerned, the team is Chad Henne’s in the future, that is unless Beck, and only Beck, can prove to be a solid starter, so for now, I’ll call it like this for week 1 – Chad Henne has shown to the be most consistent performer so far; and if Beck hasn’t shown marked improvement after firing 7,000 passes in the offseason, coupled with being more mature at 27 years of age, Henne should get a chance to grow with this young offense until the team is ready to make a run. That was Parcells idea; to make a deep run by 2010, surely Henne will be experienced enough by then.

Fullback: Reagan Mauia, the starter in 2007, surprisingly drafted by that genius regime when he could’ve been had as an undrafted free agent (can you tell I’m still bitter about this pick?) is pretty much a one-trick pony. He’s a tremendous lead blocker, but he adds no real threat to the passing game, and is not fast or athletic enough to be a part of the special teams, where as Grigsby can do a little bit of everything. One thing I’d like to note – the last time Parcells was a coach for the Dallas Cowboys, the FB, Oliver Hoyte, was a converted LB who made a mark on special teams; but did little on offense, as Anthony Fasano served as an H-back. I think Sean Ryan fills that role here as Fasano will assuredly be starting at TE barring an injury. Lex Hilliard is the other competitor, but he just doesn’t have the size to play FB at the NFL level. He seems like an excellent candidate to add to the practice squad, let him spend a year bulking up, and maybe next year he can make his run at playing FB in the NFL.

4th and 5th WR: Davone Bess, Greg Camarillo, David Kircus, Jayson Foster, John Dunlap, Selwyn Lymon are the likely candidates. Terry Glenn could be an option if indeed he gets added to the roster, though he’s yet to take his physical. Davone Bess has had a tremendous camp so far, and seems like he’s a faster version of Wes Welker in the slot – that’s a dream scenario for me right now, but I think we’ll see him on the team and be activated in a number of games this year. Camarillo is the next in line, and with a strong preseason, the 5th spot is his to lose. His ability to play the “gunner” position on punt unit should make him a valuable commodity. David Kircus is in a similar boat, but I don’t think he’s flashed the potential that Camarillo did down the stretch (New England game) ever in his career before; so he gets knocked out, perhaps a practice squad member. The rest of the group: Foster, Dunlap and Lymon still need work to improve their games. Of the three, Foster could be a practice squad candidate based on his sheer speed and ability to return kicks – someone to keep an eye on in the future whether it be for the Dolphins or another NFL team.

Right Guard: Donald Thomas seems pretty settled into that spot for right now, but let’s look at it anyways. I was not a fan of the Shawn Murphy pick whatsoever on draft day. I hated the fact we moved up and squandered a draft pick for him, when most people had him carrying a 7th round grade; myself included. After watching some film, I’ve warmed up to his potential, but there’s just something that eats at me thinking about it. Donald Thomas, a player with only one year of NCAA experience, drafted in the 6th round is going to beat him out for a starting spot. Kudos to the Triumvirate for finding him (despite carrying a 3rd/4th round grade). Murphy’s value comes in the fact that he can play both G spots, and that Justin Smiley, despite his size and strength, has proven to be a little fragile over his career – just something to keep in mind. Steve McKinney can also move over and play G in a pinch. Trey Darilek has never been anything more than a backup, but the fact that he can play all 5 O-line spots will warrant him a roster spot, though he could be replaced if a vet becomes available.

Left Defensive End: Calling the Kendall Langford selection in the 20 names contest (along with Henne, Murphy, Parmele among the draft picks – I got a few UDFA’s as well) made my day on the 2nd day of the draft. Langford hails from tiny D-1AA Hampton, but I remembered hearing one scout compare him to Reggie White and Richard Seymour, so that can’t be a bad thing. He’s got great size, at 6’6” and 290lbs, with the frame to bulk up to 300lbs; he’s going to be a fixture in the 3-4 for a long time. I can only imagine what he and Phillip Merling will do once they’re starting at DE together in the 3-4. Matt Roth was working with the 1st string for most of camp; but even at 285lbs, he’s still undersized to play the strongside end spot. Randy Starks has taken a while to adjust coming from a 4-3 defense, but he should see plenty of time there and filling in for Jason Ferguson at NT while Paul Soliai gets worked in slowly. Roth may have a better shot at becoming a run stopping SOLB in the 3-4; but he’s been a disappointment since Saban drafted him in 2005, so we’ll see what happens with him – I expect he’ll be gone after this year unless his play improves dramatically.

Backup LB spots: Quentin Moses potential at OLB coupled with his ability to rush in passing situations all but assures he’s got a spot – after all, he got a compliment from Parcells right when the Tuna took the job. Reggie Torbor’s versatility and special teams prowess will keep him around. I’m considering Roth to be the SOLB backup, and his ability to play there and at DE will keep him around, leaving 1 or potentially two spots open. The candidates include: Kelvin Smith, Edmond Miles, Junior Glymph, Titus Brown, Keith Saunders and Kelly Poppinga. Of these 6, the only three with realistic shots appear to be Smith, Miles, and Glymph. Smith and Miles were both active during the injury-plagued latter part of the 2007 season. Glymph had a nice scrimmage and knows the Dallas scheme, but with converting Roth, I think he’s shown the door; maybe the practice squad. So the battle is between Smith and Miles. Smith has the advantage in size, and is the direct backup to Channing Crowder for the moment, though I’d suspect that Ayodele would shift over and Torbor would enter the game should Crowder go down. So Smith would probably rate as being an inactive. Miles was our special teams ace from a year ago, but he’s undersized in the 3-4. With the additions of Torbor, Nathan Jones, Keith Davis, and Boomer Grigsby, I’m not sure I really see any value in keeping Miles around solely for special teams duty, so Smith gets the final spot.

Predicted inactives for week one:

QB Josh McCown – the 3rd string QB counts as a 46th player so he’ll be dressed.
TE Justin Peelle – Ryan and Grigsby can handle the H-Back duties, though Peelle may be active over one of them given the opponent or special teams needs.
T Ike Ndukwe – probably an expendable player, Darilek is a more proven and versatile backup.
G Shawn Murphy – Darilek and McKinney have more experience than Murphy.
DE Lionel Dotson – Roth and Starks can contribute at DE, so he’ll watch and learn.
NT Anthony Toribio - a “redshirt” season as Starks and Soliai rotate backing up Ferg.
LB Kelvin Smith – lost in the numbers game due to lack of special teams experience.
CB Joey Thomas – also lost in the numbers game depending on Michael Lehan’s injury situation.

Possible Practice Squad candidates:

FB Lex Hilliard – just doesn’t have the size right now to play FB at the NFL level.
WR Jayson Foster – still converting from college QB, but has tremendous speed.
TE Matthew Mulligan – showed potential in camp.
OT Darren Heerspink – has the size to play in the NFL, but needs to hone his skills.
LB Junior Glymph – has tremendous size, but has yet to put it all together.
CB Will Billingsley – great speed, but just not ready for NFL action.

Well folks, there you have it. I’ve made a few fearless forecasts (most notably Chad Henne opening against the Jets under center – it’s just my gut feeling at this point despite thinking that John Beck should get a chance to prove his worth – I just question why he’s still struggling as much as he is…) but for the most part, the starters are pretty cut and dry. There’s a few interesting spots still open for battle, LDE being the most notable, but I wanted to get into the nitty-gritty of the roster, the guts if you will, and examine our potential there. I really like the core group of special team guys in Torbor, Davis, Jones, and Grigsby. It will help make up for Mueller gutting the likes of Travis Minor, David Bowens, etc. prior to the 2007 season.

Obviously there are some positions that could still use an upgrade, like a the 3rd offensive tackle (keep an eye on Dallas’ Pat McQuistan) or a better option at the 4th WR spot (Terry Glenn) or even an OLB candidate. I’d like to think they’re done making major moves, but if they get the chance to acquire Anquan Boldin, I’d be really intrigued… we’ll see what happens. Here’s hoping for a strong showing against the Bucs this weekend anyways – let’s see how many of my picks stick for week one vs. the Jets. Please, feel free to comment, rate, etc. I'll be happy to answer any questions as well.

 

[jlfin]

Disagree on Dotson. Wright is big enough to play NT in a pinch. He has more pure talent and bigger upside.
Also don't see Martin getting cut. Fasano is the likely starter, but Martin is better at stretching the field and he will be retained.

 

[hoops]

agree with your 2 te or hback though vs a traditional fb. i think both grigsby and mauia are long gone. i can see a true fb who offers both the lead blocking and the threat as a pass catcher to maybe be found thru other teams cuts.

i think dotson is earmarked for the practice squad and i really hope we don't cut rod wright.

if travis daniels is the #4 cb it will be disappointing for me. i'd give nathan jones a shot over him off what i've seen from daniels in the past any day. i also look for another cb to come in off another teams cuts.

i'd like to think we may be able to do better than david martin as far as a vertical threat te in cuts also. his blocking in the run game which will be required in this offense this year is terrible.

i also think hagan deserves a shot at #2 wr over wilford who's been non existent of late.

the staff is also pretty high on junior glymph from what i've been reading.

 

[ckparrothead]

Good commentary, I love how you've structured it.

With the idea in mind that copying is the highest form of flattery, this would be mine...

1. John Beck – Starter
2. Chad Henne –
3. Josh McCown –
4. Ronnie Brown – Co-Starter
5. Ricky Williams – Co-Starter
6. Jalen Parmele –
7. Patrick Cobbs – Hardest-working, most well-rounded RB not named Ricky/Ronnie. STs ace.
8. Boomer Grigsby – James Saxon's ringer.
9. Derek Hagan - Starter
10. Ted Ginn – Starter
11. Ernest Wilford – Red zone specialist
12. Greg Camarillo – Fastest rising WR the press aren't talking about
13. Jayson Foster – Toughie, Camarillo's ability in the slot, Foster's returns/versatility seal it.
14. Anthony Fasano – Starter
15. David Martin - Consistently praised by Sparano for months, Peelle has been hurt and is way behind now
16. Sean Ryan –
17. Jake Long – Starter
18. Vernon Carey – Starter
19. Waiver Player – My thinking is still Pat McQuistan of Cowboys
20. Justin Smiley – Starter
21. Donald Thomas – Starter
22. Trey Darilek –
23. Shawn Murphy –
24. Samson Satele – Starter
25. Steve McKinney – Top Backup
26. Vonnie Holliday – Starter
27. Matt Roth - Starter
28. Kendall Langford – Top Backup
29. Phillip Merling –
30. Randy Starks –
31. Rodrique Wright - You don't lose players like this and Lionel Dotson has done NOTHING so far.
32. Jason Ferguson – Starter
33. Paul Soliai – Top Backup
34. Charlie Anderson – Starter
35. Joey Porter – Starter
36. Quentin Moses – Top Backup
37. Akin Ayodele – Starter
38. Channing Crowder – Starter
39. Reggie Torbor – Top Backup
40. Waiver Player - Could be Junior Glymph. A big, versatile player needed.
41. Ed Miles – Consistent STs performer and good LB
42. Andre Goodman – Starter
43. Will Allen – Starter
44. Michael Lehan – Top Backup
45. Nathan Jones –
46. Travis Daniels –
47. Jason Allen – Starter
48. Yeremiah Bell – Starter
49. Chris Crocker –
50. Keith Davis –
51. Jay Feely – Starter
52. Brandon Fields – Starter
53. John Denney –

 

[Elliott 1]

Good commentary, I love how you've structured it.

With the idea in mind that copying is the highest form of flattery, this would be mine...

1. John Beck – Starter
2. Chad Henne –
3. Josh McCown –
4. Ronnie Brown – Co-Starter
5. Ricky Williams – Co-Starter
6. Jalen Parmele –
7. Patrick Cobbs – Hardest-working, most well-rounded RB not named Ricky/Ronnie. STs ace.
8. Boomer Grigsby – James Saxon's ringer.
9. Derek Hagan - Starter
10. Ted Ginn – Starter
11. Ernest Wilford – Red zone specialist
12. Greg Camarillo – Fastest rising WR the press aren't talking about
13. Jayson Foster – Toughie, Camarillo's ability in the slot, Foster's returns/versatility seal it.
14. Anthony Fasano – Starter
15. David Martin - Consistently praised by Sparano for months, Peelle has been hurt and is way behind now
16. Sean Ryan –
17. Jake Long – Starter
18. Vernon Carey – Starter
19. Waiver Player – My thinking is still Pat McQuistan of Cowboys
20. Justin Smiley – Starter
21. Donald Thomas – Starter
22. Trey Darilek –
23. Shawn Murphy –
24. Samson Satele – Starter
25. Steve McKinney – Top Backup
26. Vonnie Holliday – Starter
27. Matt Roth - Starter
28. Kendall Langford – Top Backup
29. Phillip Merling –
30. Randy Starks –
31. Rodrique Wright - You don't lose players like this and Lionel Dotson has done NOTHING so far.
32. Jason Ferguson – Starter
33. Paul Soliai – Top Backup
34. Charlie Anderson – Starter
35. Joey Porter – Starter
36. Quentin Moses – Top Backup
37. Akin Ayodele – Starter
38. Channing Crowder – Starter
39. Reggie Torbor – Top Backup
40. Waiver Player - Could be Junior Glymph. A big, versatile player needed.
41. Ed Miles – Consistent STs performer and good LB
42. Andre Goodman – Starter
43. Will Allen – Starter
44. Michael Lehan – Top Backup
45. Nathan Jones –
46. Travis Daniels –
47. Jason Allen – Starter
48. Yeremiah Bell – Starter
49. Chris Crocker –
50. Keith Davis –
51. Jay Feely – Starter
52. Brandon Fields – Starter
53. John Denney –

Wouldn't change a thing except I would still like to see some kind of miracle take place at QB.

 

[#1dolphinsfan]

Get rid of Lionel Dotson and put another OT in there and we only need 5 corner no team is going to have a 6 WR set

 

[uk_Duper85]

Interesting read(s) :up:

 

[Wildbill3]

Good writeup. I think Josh will be the 2nd string QB because of experience in games. Whichever of the two Beck, Henne, that doesn't win starter will be 3rd string.

 

[Kdawg954]

Yea I completely disagree with Dotson over Rod Wright . . . Dotson is a perfect candidate for the PS . . . Wright is too talented to cut. He hasn't played bad, he may suit the 4-3 better, but he still is a better option that Dotson.

Also the way the Cobbs has been gunning on Special Teams . . . there is no way he is cut if he continues like that, plus he is a good guy to have in case Ronnie isn't fully back or Ricky goes down.

I would put Martin in and Peele out at TE. I have said that I can see Martin starting . . . yea I know the drops have been an issue . . . and Fasano is a BP pick . . . but for some odd reason I think Martin will shine in the preseason . . . call me crazy.

I think we keep Miles over Kelvin Smith . . . . based on ST's alone . . . this Special teams unit may end up being top 5 this year.

Get rid of Joey Thomas and Toribio . . . 5 CB's is plenty and we have enough guys who can fit in at NT . . . including Wright, Starks, Solai to go along with Fergy.

Matt Roth should not be #4 on the depth chart, whether at OLB or DE . . . he more than likely starts somewhere on this D . . . they have consistently praised his motor.

Beck is my starter going into week 1

The Bess/Foster battle is gonna be interesting, I think the team wants both, but with the idea of keeping Cobbs as a 4th RB . . . which I think is destined to happen . . . its hard to think they would roll with 6 WR's . . . but anything is possible. Bess is the better WR, Foster is that electric guy that you can put back there with TG, it will be interesting . . . I don't think either one makes it thru waivers tho, no PS for them, least not our PS.

Good list none the less, like the comments.

 

[Kdawg954]

Good commentary, I love how you've structured it.

With the idea in mind that copying is the highest form of flattery, this would be mine...

1. John Beck – Starter
2. Chad Henne –
3. Josh McCown –
4. Ronnie Brown – Co-Starter
5. Ricky Williams – Co-Starter
6. Jalen Parmele –
7. Patrick Cobbs – Hardest-working, most well-rounded RB not named Ricky/Ronnie. STs ace.
8. Boomer Grigsby – James Saxon's ringer.
9. Derek Hagan - Starter
10. Ted Ginn – Starter
11. Ernest Wilford – Red zone specialist
12. Greg Camarillo – Fastest rising WR the press aren't talking about
13. Jayson Foster – Toughie, Camarillo's ability in the slot, Foster's returns/versatility seal it.
14. Anthony Fasano – Starter
15. David Martin - Consistently praised by Sparano for months, Peelle has been hurt and is way behind now
16. Sean Ryan –
17. Jake Long – Starter
18. Vernon Carey – Starter
19. Waiver Player – My thinking is still Pat McQuistan of Cowboys
20. Justin Smiley – Starter
21. Donald Thomas – Starter
22. Trey Darilek –
23. Shawn Murphy –
24. Samson Satele – Starter
25. Steve McKinney – Top Backup
26. Vonnie Holliday – Starter
27. Matt Roth - Starter
28. Kendall Langford – Top Backup
29. Phillip Merling –
30. Randy Starks –
31. Rodrique Wright - You don't lose players like this and Lionel Dotson has done NOTHING so far.
32. Jason Ferguson – Starter
33. Paul Soliai – Top Backup
34. Charlie Anderson – Starter
35. Joey Porter – Starter
36. Quentin Moses – Top Backup
37. Akin Ayodele – Starter
38. Channing Crowder – Starter
39. Reggie Torbor – Top Backup
40. Waiver Player - Could be Junior Glymph. A big, versatile player needed.
41. Ed Miles – Consistent STs performer and good LB
42. Andre Goodman – Starter
43. Will Allen – Starter
44. Michael Lehan – Top Backup
45. Nathan Jones –
46. Travis Daniels –
47. Jason Allen – Starter
48. Yeremiah Bell – Starter
49. Chris Crocker –
50. Keith Davis –
51. Jay Feely – Starter
52. Brandon Fields – Starter
53. John Denney –

This is a very good list . . . can't disagree with too much . . . except probably WR . . . where I don't know if Foster makes it over Bess, but Foster seems like a BP project, so he may just make it. Plus the Terry Glenn factor. Everything else looks about perfect . . . waivers will be interesting.

 

[SuperMarksBros.]

I still wonder why Moses was cut by not one, but two teams before we picked him up. stud at UGA, projected as a 1st rounder before less than stellar last season in college. This guy is gonna be around for a while.

 

[NyPhan23]

Heh... here's a little depth chart I wrote up for another forum type place. It's basically a follow up on one I did earlier in the offseason. The knowledge base at this other site isn't as broad as it is here so some of the info is a little rudimentary, but I put some time into it.


Quarterbacks (3):

John Beck
Josh McCown
Chad Henne

Well, not much has been resolved at this position since my last write up, and Sparano and Co still are making no hints as to who their starter is going to be. Based on everyone’s performance in camp thus far… I’d say it’s about time to start making negotiations with ol danny to see if he wants another crack at reclaiming all of his records that Favre has broken. But look at the bright side guys… at least our DBs are looking good in training camp. It seems like so far the most consistent quarterback in camp has been Henne. Apparently he is really starting to grasp the offense from what he has said in his interviews, and there is an air of confidence surrounding him when he makes his decisions. Overall he has had the least ‘bad’ practices of all of the quarterbacks. But in reality, I still don’t think that this team will open the season with a rookie at the helm. Josh McCown is still a proven commodity as a mediocre quarterback, and I believe that it would be pointless to waste snaps on him, which is why I feel that they will test the waters with Beck. That is of course unless he throws too many more passes backwards into the awaiting arms of defenders. In Beck’s defense, he and the coaching staff have been working this offseason to restore his throwing mechanics back to their pre injury form of the over the top motion rather than three quarters, so it may take a little time for Beck to regain his bearings I suppose. And things have been starting to piece back together for him as the second week of practice has been nowheres near as painstaking as the first.

Halfbacks (4):

Ronnie Brown
Ricky Williams
Patrick Cobbs
Jalen Parmele

My Predicted Cuts:
Lex Hilliard

As I mentioned in my previous depth chart, I was sad to see Lorenzo Booker traded away, but I think that we made up for it with the drafting of Parmele in the 6th round (watch booker become the next Bryan Westbrook in Philly). So far in camp Parmele has shown a lot of speed and burst when he hits the hole, and is really making a case for himself as to why he should make this team. Earlier in the offseason I also predicted that Patrick Cobbs wouldn’t make the team, but I’ve changed my mind after reading so much about his success at the gunner position on special teams. If you are a tweener on this roster or any roster for that matter, that is most definitely a way to find yourself onto the team, good special teams play. As for Ronnie, apparently he is feeling little to no ill effects from the knee injury, but some say that he may look a little ginger on it when planting from time to time. I think he is going to be ok though and if he doesn’t start the season as the starter he will be eventually. Also, apparently Ricky has looked like the Ricky of old in camp this year and is impressing everyone with the condition he is in and his great work ethic. His good example is great to have around these young guys as it most definitely rubs off. It’s also nice to know that if Ronnie isn’t 100% ready to go come week one, there is someone to lean back on. As for Lex Hilliard, apparently he hasn’t been playing up to what was expected in camp, but if he’s lucky he may find his way onto the practice squad.

Fullbacks (1):

Reagan Mauia

My Predicted Cuts:
Boomer Grigsby

Earlier this offseason I was high on Boomer Grigsby as I read all about his special teams prowess, but now that camp is here, I come to find out he isn’t even practicing with the covering units. If Grigsby isn’t going to be playing special teams, then there is no reason to keep two fullbacks around as we will more than likely be running a lot of two TE sets. Also, keeping one fullback opens up another spot for someone like Patrick Cobbs to stick around who is performing well on special teams. Apparently Reagan’s run in with the law in the early summer wasn’t enough to set Parcells and Co off as he is still on the roster.

Wide Recievers (5):

Ted Ginn
Derek Hagan
Ernest Wilford
Greg Camarillo
Davone Bess

My Predicted Cuts:
David Kircus
John Dunlap
Selwyn Lymon
Jayson Foster
Anthony Armstrong

Who would have thought that Derek Hagan would be the most impressive wide receiver in camp… not me that’s for sure. Hopefully this will be Derek’s coming out year as he most certainly owes it to us fins fans after the countless drive ending drops he put us through in the past two years. He has always been a very good mechanical wide receiver (crisp routes, quick), he could just never hold on to the ball. Well apparently this year he has worked on that, and his mechanics have improved as well. That is why I’ve moved him above Wilford, who also surprisingly has been having a rather disappointing camp and is on the verge of being demoted (he’s been taking reps with some of the second stringers here and there). Regardless… Wilford will still be good to have around in the red zone when we need that big wideout reminiscent of Oronde Gadsden to go up for that big catch in small spaces. I was high on Bess on my last depth chart, and he has done nothing to prove any of the Bess supporters wrong. He just dropped his first pass of camp yesterday a week and a half in, and has been all over the place. I still look for him to make this team and maybe see some playing time in the slot if we ever do any three receiver sets (probably won’t be that often). Overall, this group has been the weakest unit in camp, I don’t ever recall reading about so many dropped passes in my life. Hopefully they can pull it together otherwise it is going to be a very long season, especially since there is no one who has yet proven they can consistently get them the ball.

Tight Ends (3):

Anthony Fasano
David Martin
Sean Ryan


My Predicted Cuts:
Justin Peele
Matthew Mulligan

Justin Peele really hurt himself by missing the first week of practice. He’s been a consistent tight end in the past, but looks like he will be a numbers casualty here as Fasano pretty much has the starting job on locks. Although many of us fans hold a grudge against David Martin for his play last year, he is still likely a better receiving tight end than Peele, and Sean Ryan likely sticks around for his ability to block in two TE sets and his special teams play. Don’t be surprised if undrafted free agent Matthew Mulligan squeezes his way into this group as he has been turning a lot of heads in practice thus far, catching a few TDs including one of the only two in the teams scrimmage last Saturday. If Mulligan makes the team it could spell bad news for Martin.

Left Tackles (2):

Jake Long
Ikechuku Ndukwe

So far in camp, Jake Long has pretty much been what we expected. He’s had some trouble with the speed rushers in passing situations, but has done very well run blocking. This is pretty much what people said about him coming out of college though… that he needed to work on his foot movement. Hopefully it will come in time… he will likely have a lot of wake up calls early and often if he doesn’t improve quickly when he’s a starting left tackle in the NFL. Trey Darilek is another versatile lineman who has also been practicing a little in this left tackle spot, likely as a potential backup. With the lack of tackle depth I was a little surprised they got rid of Julius Wilson.

Left Guards (2):

Justin Smiley
Shawn Murphy

At first Miami brought Smiley in as a right guard as that’s what he played last year in San Francisco, but it makes the most sense that they moved him over to the left. It will help to balance out this line considerably as otherwise the entire left side and center would have about 16 games of NFL experience (and those would all be via Satele). If this line can gel quickly though… the thoughts of the running lanes that Smiley and Long should be able to open up on the left side should be enough to make most dolfans drool.



Centers (2):

Samson Satele
Steve McKinney

My Predicted Cuts:
Matt Spanos

This is pretty much a given, and I'm looking forward to seeing Satele’s progress throughout the year yet again. He has been getting handled a little bit in camp by the likes of Jason Ferguson, but that is to be expected when the defense runs a 3-4. On the other hand, he has had little trouble against last years fellow Hawaii rook Paul Soliai. If Satele gets hurt, Steve McKinney is his likely replacement as he has some center experience from Houston, but also look for McKinney as a possible replacement if one of the guards go down.

Right Guards (2):

Donald Thomas
Trey Darilek

My Predicted Cuts:
Mike Byrne

Well, at first after the draft I thought this spot would have Shawn Murphy written all over it. But it’s not a bad thing that Donald Thomas has been one of the most surprising players in camp. Currently on Sparano’s depth chart, Thomas is not yet starting, but I feel like that is likely to change as he has been practicing with the starting offense for the last 6 days or so. And when wily vets like Jason Ferguson sing nothing but good praise about him, he must be doing something right. Overall this line is very youth infused and it will likely take some time for it to all come together, but looking on the bright side, at least the young guys are all near some more seasoned players to help make the transition a little more smooth.

Right Tackle (1):

Vernon Carey


My Predicted Cuts:
Daren Heerspink

Big V gets to move back to his natural position, and I foresee a great year from him. Hopefully with Long and Vernon on the ends, our quarterbacks will have a little more time to get the ball out of their hands this year (although that certainly hasn’t been the case in training camp). If Carey goes down look for Darilek or Ndukwe to fill the void, hopefully it doesn’t come to that.


Ok, so that’s it for the offense… the defense is where things really start to get tricky.

Nose Tackles (2):

Jason Ferguson
Paul Soliai

My Predicted Cuts:
Anthony Toribio

For an old guy, Ferguson has been doin a hell of a job in camp and apparently he’s all over the place. That’s nice to know after we lost Keith Traylor, hopefully we won’t miss a beat in that department. Although these are my predictions for the only 2 nose tackles to remain on the team, I certainly don’t think they will be the only ones playing the position. I wouldn’t be surprised to maybe see Rod Wright get some action in here and even Phillip Merling was doing some reps at NT today in practice. I guess this defense is going to be all about versatility as many of the players are practicing in new roles. It’s also good to keep these big guys fresh as they get tired fast in the trenches. There was also some early talk among dolfan nation about Randy Starks getting some reps here, but I feel he is more suited for DE in the 3-4, he’s not really big enough for the NT spot.

Left Ends (3):

Matt Roth
Kendall Langford
Rod Wright


So… in my last write up, Roth was one of my surprise cuts, but from what I know now, I feel that is very unlikely to happen. I haven’t heard much about Roth wowing anyone in camp, but apparently this staff is quite high on him, so I think he keeps his spot and even starts. What I’d personally rather see is him excel at the OLB position where he’s been getting reps in. If that were to happen we could get Langford a chance at end who is the Sparano proclaimed biggest success story from offseason strength and conditioning, not to mention he’s been performing on the practice field. I still like Rod Wright and that may be one of the only reasons that I found room for him on my predicted depth chart; honestly though, I would not be surprised to see him let go as I’ve heard very little about him since camp started which is likely not good. Not to mention the overflow of players along the dline.


Right Ends (3):

Vonnie Holliday
Phillip Merling
Randy Starks

My Predicted Cuts:
Lionel Dotson

Holliday is now one of the lone old vets on this defense and he’s been playing well in camp so far. That is no surprise though really if we remember back to the success Holliday had two years ago in a similar system with Saban. It has been Holliday’s job to help welcome big Jake Long to the NFL, and he has consistently been doing a good job of it. I really liked the Merling pick, but don’t know if he’s gonna see considerable time with the overflow of DE’s on this team and the fact that Langford has been very impressive thus far. However, Holliday has also been getting some reps in at the OLB position as well and that may open some things up. As for Lionel Dotson, another numbers casualty most likely, look for him to find a spot on the practice squad.

LOLB (1):

Joey Porter

My Predicted Cuts:
Rob Ninkovich
Junior Glymph
Titus Brown

Yea, it’s kind of strange that I’m predicting we keep only one LB on this side, but at the same time you have to keep in mind the versatility of this defense. Both Holliday and Roth have been getting reps in at this spot, and Reggie Torbor also has some experience at the OLB position. I’ve heard good things about Junior Glymph in training camp, and he could likely be another practice squad player if he doesn’t make the team.

ROLB (2):

Charlie Anderson
Quentin Moses


My Predicted Cuts:
Keith Saunders

Personally, I’d really love for Quentin Moses to be the starter in this spot, but I don’t think it’s going to happen with the way Charlie Anderson has been playing in camp. Not that QM has been playing poorly, he just really hasn’t had many chances with the first teamers, and Anderson hasn’t really messed up enough to give Quentin a shot. If Holliday or Roth find any success at the LOLB spot, then look for Porter to move to this side.

MLB1 (2):

Channing Crowder
Edmund Miles

My Predicted Cuts:
Kelvin Smith
Kelly Poppinga

Channing is really center-stage in the old media spotlight thus far in camp, it’s good to see because someone needs to step up and be the face of this defense after the departures of JT and Zach. Hopefully he can step his play up as well though because it has been nothing to marvel at the past few years. It’s not like he hasn’t had good people around him to learn from though, so maybe things will change. Edmund Miles is a ST wiz, thus he makes the team over Kelvin Smith and Poppinga.

MLB2 (2):

Akin Ayodele
Reggie Torbor

At first I thought that there would be more competition for this spot, but it’s been all Ayodele so far. I guess that makes sense as he’s had more starting experience, and is a Parcells picked guy. Torbor played well though last year when called upon in New York, and he provides solid depth here.

Cornerbacks (5):

Will Allen
Andre Goodman
Michael Lehan
Travis Daniels
Nate Jones

My Predicted Cuts:
Joey Thomas
Chris Roberson
Will Billingsley

I’d say the wildcard in this group may be Joey Thomas. I could see him making the team over Nate Jones or Travis Daniels. So far Nate Jones has had a pretty good camp though with a few picks, so it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see Daniels get the boot. Lehan has missed a lot of practice with that ankle sprain, hopefully he’ll be back soon. Will Allen has continued to play well from everything I’ve read, hopefully he can follow up on his 07 performance. I don’t think that these corners are as terrible as some think they are, as long as Lehan gets back to 100% soon.

Free Safety (3):

Jason Allen
Chris Crocker
Renaldo Hill

Finally, a year where Jason Allen should be the starting safety from week one. He continues to say that Pasqualoni really makes this defense easy to learn, so that should help for him as he’s struggled with learning new systems in the past. Chris Crocker has been making some big hits in practice and will be a good relief guy, but hopefully he won’t have to start as he’s had coverage problems in the past. As for Renaldo Hill, I think that the ACL injury may have hurt him here a little bit, and he could be a question mark to make the team.

Strong Safety (2):

Yeremiah Bell
Keith Davis

My Predicted Cuts:
Courtney Bryan

To my surprise Yeremiah is feeling no ill effects from his achilles injury and in a player friendly defense like this, he will likely thrive. His nickname wasn’t playmaker for nothin. He has been another of the bright spots in camp thus far. Keith Davis is another big hitter who will be kept around for mainly special teams reasons, but shouldn’t do too bad of a job if he is called upon. Let’s just hope our safety situation doesn’t turn out like last year, and I don’t think it will with the new conditioning program that this regime has put in place. All of those injuries throughout the whole team last year were no fluke, it was poor conditioning.

Special Teams (3):

K - Jay Feeley
P - Brandon Fields
LS - John Denney

My Predicted Cuts:
Dan Carpenter

Yea… Dan Carpenter has been playing well in practice, but I still feel he was only brought in to humble Jay Feeley as Parcells doesn’t like mouthy kickers. But in all fairness Jay had a great year last year minus his average kickoffs. As for Brandon Fields, I’d had just about enough of him after last season, but according to camp reports he’s been booming punts all over the place, so maybe he will come around. As of right now, Ginn is still listed as the starting return man in both spots, but that duty could be handed off to someone of less importance to the team such as Davone Bess. Personally, I’d have no complaints with Ginn back there though, it sure is fun to watch.

 

[MrEd]

Disagree on Dotson. Wright is big enough to play NT in a pinch. He has more pure talent and bigger upside.
Also don't see Martin getting cut. Fasano is the likely starter, but Martin is better at stretching the field and he will be retained.

I'm with you. No way they cut Wright or Martin. This guy has to pay more attention to reports.

 

[MrEd]

Also, the fact that MIA hasn't even inquired about Brett Favre leads me to believe that BP/JI/TS actually expect Henne to, if not win the job by opening day, then at least by midseason.

And the putting on hold of Terry Glenn signing also tells me that BP may be interested in or inquiring about Chris Henry.

 

[RoninFin4]

I'm with you. No way they cut Wright or Martin. This guy has to pay more attention to reports.

Considering that Rodrique Wright has never played a single snap at NT ever in the 3-4 defense, I don't think that means he can play it in a pinch, and the fact that he's 6'5" and 300lbs, indicates to me that he wouldn't have the necessary leverage to play the nose, where as they can groom someone like Anthony Toribio or Lionel Dotson to play there.

As for Martin, Henning has never been a big user of the TE. Martin has little or no ability to play H-back, as he's not a good blocker, drops to many passes etc. Fasano was brought into start, and Ryan can play H-back, tell me where the spot for Martin is?